test for leukemia | Leukemia Analyses for leukemia

Leukemia Analyses for leukemia

Cancer proliferation, i.e. uncontrolled, of precursor cells (blasts) of normal white blood cells in the bone marrow and blood. The term leukemia is opposed to lymphoma, the invasion of lymph nodes. However, this distinction is theoretical, the evolved forms of leukemia could reach all organs.

Different types of leukemia-differ chronic leukemia, in which proliferation is not accompanied by stopping the maturation of precursors present in the marrow, acute leukemia, in which the proliferation of these precursors is added a blockage of their maturation, which What has the consequence, on the one hand, an excess of young cells, on the other, the absence of mature white blood cells. In addition, leukemia can develop either on the precursors of polynuclear cells (Mieloblasti) or on the precursors of lymphocytes (Limfoblasti).
These criteria lead to the classification in four major types of different forms that the disease can take: Chronic myeloid leukaemia (LMC), acute myeloid leukaemia (LAM), chronic lymphoid leukaemia (LLC), the most common in people past 40 years, and leukemia Acute lymphoid (LAL), the most common to the child.

Causes-leaving aside professional exposures intensive to some chemicals or radiation, the cause of leukemia remains unknown in most cases.

Symptom-These are little characteristic and are caused by insufficient mature elements of the blood (polinudeare, red blood cells and plaques), as well as the invasion of various organs by the white blood cells. Decreasing the number of red blood cells trains an anemia with pallor and palpitations. Absence of platelets causes haemorrhagic phenomena (bleeding of gums, bruising). Finally, the diminishing polinuclearelor exposes to serious infections such as sepsis or severe angina. The invasion especially concerns the spleen and lymph nodes, which increase in volume, rarely the skin, traducandu then by the appearance of Leucemidelor (large red-brown papules), or the nervous system, training headaches, meningitis, facial paralysis or Disturbances of consciousness.

Diagnosis-it is based on blood and spinal analysis. The blood is often poor in red blood cells and in plaques and contains normal-looking leukocytes, but in excessive numbers (chronic leukemia), or abnormally young leukocytes (acute leukemia). Myelogram (bone spinal) shows an invasion of blasts (acute leukemia) or with an excessive number of more mature white blood cells, lymphocytes or precursors of polinuclearelor, in chronic leukemia.

Treatment-it depends on the patient's age and the type of leukemia. He is generally less intensive in patients past 65 years. A bone marrow graft is only considered in subjects under the age of 50 years. The treatment of acute, myeloid and lymphoid leukaemias consists of intensive chemotherapy. But this treatment destroys both tumor cells and the normal cells of spinal. It follows a transient but marked disappearance of myeloid cells, the period during which the subject is particularly exposed to infections, haemorrhages and anaemia, respectively by lack of polinudeare, plaques and red blood cells. The cure therefore requires a prolonged hospitalization. In most cases, blasts disappear during treatment. A consolidation treatment, based on mild chemotherapy, is then administered either in repeated and quite slightly intensive cures, either in a cure or two but much more intensive. A bone marrow graft can also be considered (allograft or marrow autograft).
-Treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia is bone marrow graft when it is possible. Chemotherapy only allows normalization of the number of white blood cells without impeding the evolution of the disease.
-Treatment of chronic lymphoid leukaemia is, in many cases, useless, this disease not training any symptoms and having a very slow evolution.
In the case of acute leukemia, there is a risk of a hundred percent, especially in the three years following illness. This risk is small for the acute lymphoid leukemia of the child, more important for other varieties of acute leukemia.